The logistics and SCM software landscape is transforming to meet the evolving needs of businesses, with agility, resiliency and intelligent operations as the new buzzwords.

From comprehensive suite providers to niche players, the logistics software options are vast. Innovative providers are introducing cutting-edge features like advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Compare Top Supply Chain Management Software Leaders

This article explores the best logistics software solutions, delving into their features, benefits, and unique selling points to help you optimize your operations and meet ever-growing customer demand.

Article Roadmap

• The Best Logistics Software
  • Blue Yonder
  • Oracle SCM Cloud
  • Epicor SCM
  • Sage X3
  • Manhattan Supply Chain
• Why Do You Need Logistics Management Software?
• Business Use Cases
• How To Choose the Right Logistics Management Software
• Next Steps

The Best Logistics Software

Finding the right tool that suits your business is crucial. We’ve outlined the features, benefits and limitations of the top logistics management solutions to guide your software selection.

Blue Yonder

Blue Yonder is a leading logistics management software provider that enables organizations to streamline their supply chain processes. The software provides extensive tools and capabilities to optimize transportation, storage and inventory management processes.

Blue Yonder’s AI/ML-based supply chain platform, Luminate Logistics, is one of its primary differentiators. It offers an end-to-end execution framework to develop flexible, fully autonomous distribution networks.

It can detect snags before they occur, offer machine-learning-based action recommendations and reduce risk while capitalizing on potential.

Highest Rated Features According to Our Data

• Carrier Management — 100
• Evaluating Freight Rates and Schedules — 100
• Fleet Management — 100
• In-Transit Visibility and Control — 100
• Transportation Planning and Forecasting — 100

Top Benefits

• Optimize Inventory: Establish and maintain a competitive edge by strategically planning your inventory logistics and implementing, with strategic objectives for service, manufacturing and distribution. Multi-channel optimization for inventory and stocking techniques helps boost customer service.
• Manage Sales and Operations: Address supply chain challenges to maintain sales viability and operational strategies, increase productivity and successfully link planning and execution. Set realistic cost, revenue and profit goals and bring the supply chain together to achieve them.
• Oversee Finances: With merchandise financial management, businesses can connect their strategic plans to achieve agreed-upon goals. Establish customer-focused financial rules to handle inventory to boost productivity and profits effectively.
• Control Assortment: Assortment management integrates customer purchasing preferences, assortment lifecycle planning, extensive analytics, pre-pack and sizing optimization into a streamlined workflow.
• Optimize Warehouse Management: Real-time transaction processing, selection and storage techniques, integrated labor laws and directed task management enable the warehouse management module to deliver high-quality services at a lower cost.

Primary Features

• Logistics Network: Blue Yonder’s Logistics ecosystem connects you to a digital SCM execution partner community. Dynamic price discovery offers unified and seamless access to dynamic pricing and capacity, while freight capacity optimization minimizes idle miles.
• Transportation Management: This durable logistics software transforms workflows by streamlining and perfecting execution in multimodal transportation networks. Unlock end-to-end process management, from modeling to scheduling last-mile delivery.
• Warehouse and Labor Management: Change how you do business with real-time inbound and outgoing transaction processing, optimal storage techniques and integrated labor management on an intuitive and smooth user interface.
• Robotics Hub: This SaaS-native logistics software allows rapid onboarding of different warehouse automation service providers. Speed up time to value, improve operational flexibility and eliminate vendor lock-in. Using a single operations dashboard also enhances visibility across various automation systems.
• Demand Planning: The logistics planning software deploys demand-forecasting variables to provide demand projection with analyzed business impact and risk. Ensure increased planning efficiency, better inventory management, improved customer behavior and demand driver awareness.

Limitations

• Implementing Blue Yonder is complex and time-consuming.
• The advanced features of this logistics management software require a steep learning curve for users and IT teams.
• It has a low processing speed.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Accounting Software Integration — Not Supported
• eCommerce Software Integration — Supported With Integrations

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Oracle SCM Cloud

Oracle SCM Cloud is logistics management software that helps businesses streamline their supply chain processes by offering an integrated suite of cloud-based solutions. Its potent predictive analytics capability is a noteworthy feature.

This logistics planning software can forecast consumer demand, optimize inventory levels and recommend appropriate shipping routes via machine learning and AI. It integrates seamlessly with other Oracle solutions and third-party apps, facilitating collaboration throughout the supply chain ecosystem.

Highest Rated Features According to Our Data

• Demand Forecast Simulations — 100
• Fuel Consumption Analytics — 100
• Evaluating Freight Rates and Schedules — 100
• Route Planning and Optimization — 100
• Transportation Planning and Forecasting — 100

Top Benefits

• Simplify Installation: This scm tool enhances supply chain capabilities by letting users choose the components and modules to install. Every component is backed by Oracle’s support assurance, providing access to all support avenues.
• Unlock Cloud Capabilities: Get mobile access to vital supply chain data for safe backup and access from anywhere.
• Exceed Business Goals: Reduce costs, increase supply chain productivity and gain visibility into customer service KPIs with this logistics software’s wide range of tools.
• Adopt the Latest Technologies: Keep up with transportation trends by incorporating modern technologies like machine learning, AI and blockchain support into everyday supply chain activities.
• Digitize Supply Chains: As one of the best supply chain planning tools, Oracle facilitates digital data exchange to reduce daily operational costs. Eliminate analog filing and the need for expensive on-site maintenance to speed up all your supply chain processes.

Primary Features

• Transportation Management: This transportation logistics software reduces fleet management complexity while increasing carrier sourcing. Quickly optimize multimodal transportation using its extensive dashboard.
• Warehouse Management: Real-time visibility into warehousing processes improves accuracy while lowering daily costs.
• Real-Time Visibility: The solution provides real-time in-transit visibility by locating goods for all legs of the journey across all modes and regions by inputting a shipment tracking, booking, container or vessel number.
• Demand Management: Robust predictive analytics native to the logistics planning software lets users forecast product demand, assisting businesses in staying ahead of market developments.
• Collaboration and Visibility: Companies can plan and forecast more effectively with more significant data visibility. Stay in touch with clients and partners using a messaging system that connects businesses.

Limitations

• Integrating Oracle SCM Cloud with legacy systems or third-party software is challenging.
• Real-time analytics and reporting capabilities are inflexible.
• It has a limited scope for customization.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Customs Filing — Supported With Additional Modules
• Export and Import Management — Supported With Additional Modules
• Trade Agreements — Supported With Additional Modules

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Epicor SCM

Epicor is highly scalable and customizable logistics software that provides enterprise offerings like purchasing, inventory, advanced material warehousing, order and demand management, and sourcing and procurement.

Its user-friendly interface and intuitive design are fundamental differentiators, making it accessible to users of all aptitude ranges.

Epicor’s cloud-based approach allows businesses to scale their logistics management as they grow effortlessly. It supports seamless integration with other enterprise systems, providing a comprehensive solution for simplifying supply chain operations in today’s business landscape.

Highest Rated Features According to Our Data

• Carrier Management — 100
• In-Transit Visibility and Control — 100
• Evaluating Freight Rates and Schedules — 100
• Demand Forecast Simulations— 100
• Custom Dashboards — 100

Top Benefits

• Streamline Material Management: The material management module generates computerized product requests, sends them and tracks inventory movements. It also provides a material handler interface, order prioritizing, sales order allocation, scanning and other functionality to satisfy customer needs.
• Manage and Regulate Inventory: Epicor’s cycle counting module regulates and counts inventory on schedule to cut annual audit costs. This technique enables the definition of necessary cycle counts, zero quantity counting of on-hand items and item labeling using the correct ABC code.
• Coordinate Supplier Relationships: The logistics management software brings together purchasing agents, buyers, and procurement professionals to refine the quoting of contracting rates with its estimation tool. Use a filter to find the best material for the job and sort the RFQ requirements according to the cost, lead time, ISO certification, stock-on-hand and quality rating.
• Optimize Inventory: This transportation logistics software has a user-friendly online interface that combines dependable forecasting methodology, optimization strategies, consensus demand and inventory planning.
• Connect Commerce: Its eCommerce wing is powered by Prophet 21, and Epicor ERP promotes online business growth. Mobile access, real-time stock levels, B2B and B2C channel support, special pricing, search engine optimization, site analytics, appealing storefronts, master shopper and sales rep features are among its advantages.

Primary Features

• Shipping and Receiving: Use a centralized application to track incoming and outgoing shipments. Increase efficiency, usability and accuracy with online transactions and editing. Container and receipt tracking, customer and miscellaneous cargo tracking, manifesting and freight management, bill of lading printing and other features streamline shipping.
• Handheld Application: The Epicor Handheld application allows you to track inventory as it moves within the company. Its event-based task directing and routing preserves a complete transaction history for reporting and analysis.
• Electronic Data Integration: Provides B2B integration solutions that cut expenses and boost productivity by providing electronic data interchange features, flexible data integration and database translation engines.
• Barcoding: Epicor BarTender enhances security, safety and efficiency by automating barcodes, printing and regulating labels, plastic cards, RFID tags and other items.
• Warehouse Management: Get total visibility and control of SCM and logistics processes. Finite bin and package definitions, activities and consumption management, task and load management, multi-channel order processing, and other capabilities come with logistics planning software.

Limitations

• The system runs slow, affecting overall performance.
• It lacks support on complex issues.
• The process of installation, implementation and upgrading is cumbersome.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• What-if Simulations for Transportation Modeling — Not Supported
• Fuel Consumption Analytics — Not Supported
• Logistics and Shipping Software Integration — Not Supported
• Accounting Software Integration — Supported With Integrations

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Sage X3

Sage X3 is all-around logistics management software that optimizes supply chain activities. One of its primary differentiators is its strong integration capabilities, which enable seamless connectivity throughout the supply chain ecosystem.

From order management to inventory control, delivery, and beyond, this connection provides real-time data sharing and collaboration. The solution enables enterprises to obtain end-to-end visibility, enabling informed decision-making and lowering operational difficulties by providing a consolidated platform for all supply chain processes.

Highest Rated Features According to Our Data

• Carrier Management — 100
• Dock Appointment Scheduling — 100
• Fleet Management — 100
• Inventory Optimization Analytics — 100
• Demand Forecast Simulations — 100

Top Benefits

• Automate Operations: Sage Business Cloud X3 supports managing numerous business components, including lead acquisition, customer shipping and notifications. These processes automate workflows. For example, Sage X3 creates an invoice based on that data after a transaction and sends it to customers.
• Visualize Data: Create dashboards based on trigger events. With over 400 standardized reports, you can filter predetermined information to envision operations and swiftly obtain significant data.
• Maintain Compliance: This logistics management software ensures you follow multiple security standards such as LDAP, OAuth2 and SAML2.
• Access on Mobile: It’s accessible on Android and iOS devices and has an HTML5 interface that allows users to customize it to meet their needs.

Primary Features

• Budgeting and Accounting: Sage X3 includes fundamental accounting activities such as accounts payable and receivable, a consolidated ledger, budgeting, and fixed asset management.This tool also includes tax management.
• Purchasing: The purchasing tool comprises, among other things, supplier and product management features, purchase requests, and supplier invoicing. Users can check supplier quality, maintain product serial numbers, consider quotation requests and reorder suggestions.
• Inventory Management: The transportation logistics software supports multiple warehouses, different companies, and multiple sites, allowing users to track and manage inventory across several geographic locations.
• Sales Management: Sage X3’s sales management function automates transactions completed across several sites. It enables the application of varied prices and discounts, as well as the control of sales quotes and shipment preparation.It helps invoice production and complies with the EU Exchange of Goods Declaration.
• Quality Control: It lets you monitor expiration dates, create quality control records and maintain serial numbers. You can label stock as acceptable, rejected or inspected so that products that don’t meet the criteria don’t reach customers. Sage X3 also has re-inspection and sampling management.

Limitations

• The HR module lacks significant features.
• It doesn’t provide easy access to stock status check features.
• It doesn’t support back order entry in sales order forms.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• What-if Simulations for Transportation Modeling — Not Supported
• Labor Utilization Dashboard — Not Supported
• Logistics and Shipping Software Integration— Supported With Integrations

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Manhattan Supply Chain

Manhattan Supply Chain is a comprehensive solution for larger businesses seeking to streamline and optimize their supply chain processes.

Its advanced suite of tools that covers the entire supply chain lifecycle sets it apart as a key differentiator. From demand forecasting and inventory management to order fulfillment and transportation optimization, Manhattan offers a holistic approach to supply chain management, allowing businesses to simplify and centralize their operations.

Moreover, Manhattan’s cutting-edge machine learning algorithms empower businesses to make data-driven decisions, automate routine tasks and adapt to evolving market conditions with agility. This predictive and prescriptive capability helps optimize inventory levels, reduce operational costs and improve customer service.

Highest Rated Features According to Our Data

• Carrier Management — 100
• Customs Filing — 100
• Dock Appointment Scheduling — 100
• Custom Dashboards — 100
• End-To-End Supply Chain Visualizations — 100

Top Benefits

• Gain Data Visibility: Its SCM solution provides a bird’s eye view of crucial processes. Data collected from these duties lets management plan and make informed decisions.
• Balance Expenses: This logistics management software assists in balancing and reducing transportation and inventory management costs while maintaining service standards.
• Use the Cloud: This platform is accessible as a cloud-based solution with several advantages. You can upgrade it in real time and securely store critical project documents on the cloud.
• Eliminate Errors: Reducing errors lowers expenses and increases client trust. Automating time-consuming manual operations that require employee input helps eliminate difficulties caused by human error.

Primary Features

• Warehouse Management: It offers unique functionality for streamlining warehousing chores. Increase accuracy and streamline inventory placement throughout crucial warehouse procedures.
• Transportation Management: Reduce shipping and transportation expenses with management solutions to optimize delivery operations. It has valuable characteristics in the worldwide transportation business, such as multilingual and currency support.
• Value-Added Services: Businesses that offer kitting and other value-added services can gain access to functions based on these procedures and continue to provide them to their customers.
• Inventory Management: Manhattan Associates Supply Chain contains inventory optimization solutions that clients can use to minimize inventory while uncovering stagnant merchandise soaking up valuable space.
• Integrations: This transportation and logistics software includes several integrations facilitating information flow between partners and clients. Other inclusions offer 3PL providers with all they need to manage their businesses.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Trade Agreements — Not Supported
• Procure-To-Pay Analytics — Not Supported
• Demand Forecast Simulations — Supported With Additional Modules
• Replenishment Planning Analytics — Supported With Additional Modules

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Why Do You Need Logistics Management Software?

The supply chain market has evolved with a keen customer-centric focus with technological endeavors redirecting it towards same-day delivery, in-transit visibility, integrative abilities, cloud access and tech assistance.

Gartner’s 2022 Software Market Insights shows that 84% of buyers prioritize a smooth user experience in logistics management solutions.

Let’s see how logistics systems leverage these features to refine supply chains:

User Interface: An intuitive design makes navigating the UI and conducting visual operations easy. Advanced logistics management systems can provide your business with a customized user interface, boosting user experience and efficiency.

Integration: Integration ensures data flows smoothly between different supply chain components, providing a unified view of operations. It eliminates data silos, reduces redundancy and enhances overall visibility, enabling more informed decision-making.

Most logistics management solutions seamlessly integrate with various systems, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), and Transportation Management Systems (TMS).

Scalability: Logistics management software must be scalable to allow firms to respond to shifting demand and expansion. LMS may accommodate expanding supply chain activities by adding new users, boosting transaction volumes, or incorporating additional locations.

Because of this scalability, the software remains an asset even as the supply chain evolves, avoiding the need for costly system replacements.

Reporting and Analytics: Advanced analytics provide detailed insights into supply chain performance, including data on critical parameters such as on-time deliveries, inventory turnover and transportation costs. These reports enable supply chain managers to identify opportunities for improvement, make data-driven choices, and optimize processes for efficiency and cost savings.

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Business Use Cases

Effective logistics management aims to deliver products on schedule, match supply and demand, and allocate appropriate resources. However, businesses have varying objectives and often encounter hurdles like erroneous invoices, product recalls, obsolete inventory and more.

How do we take proactive action in such circumstances? Which logistics features or modules come to the rescue?

We’ve outlined some situational business use cases and examples where the best logistics software eliminates issues and keeps the supply chain moving.

1. Incorrect Invoicing: Sometimes, invoices reflect price or quantity discrepancies between the order and when the products arrive. In such cases, use AI) and ML capabilities of logistics solutions.

AI uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies to extract crucial information from invoices and find budget anomalies.

2. RFQ Responses: Managers must handle timely orders and respond rapidly to customer requests. Using bots, you may respond to RFQs promptly and hasten the quoting process with less human involvement.

Bots can assist in timely quotations and increase the likelihood of a successful RFQ. As a result of their quick reaction times and availability around the clock, they can also boost sales.

Rittal, a leading supplier of industrial enclosures, power distribution, and climate control equipment, revamped its purchasing procedure with digital logistics technologies from Jaggaer One.

As a result, they could customize their RFQs for particular commodities or requests, which expedited their RFQ process.

3. Forecasting Demand: Demand forecasting, which lets businesses estimate demand, supply and pricing within an industry, is supported by the AI-powered predictive analytics component in logistic management software.

This function enhances the precision of demand forecasts by combining previous data from numerous sources. It helps businesses maintain adequate inventories to meet client demands without creating an excess.

Additionally, it aids in improving cash flow organization and labor planning to increase business efficiency.

Through AI-powered demand forecasting, SupChains and DragonRitter, a forecasting-as-a-service platform, assisted a pharmaceutical distributor in reducing inventory while optimizing service levels.

4. Optimizing Inventory: Logistics management solutions integrated with an ERP system provide a consolidated system for managing inventory from all angles.

They can aggregate information from various sources, such as current requests, inbound and outbound sales, stocks, or delivery status, into one spot.

It aids in the streamlining of numerous operations. It provides an overall picture of the complete logistics system, including the live status of items, customer details, market trends, transportation processes and more.

One Business, a global manufacturer, designed an ERP system to integrate its logistics, procurement and manufacturing processes. This integration enabled the company to predict demand better, optimize inventory levels and avoid stockouts or overstock.

How To Choose the Right Logistics Management Software

As we mentioned earlier, the sheer variety of logistics management solutions and the unique needs of businesses make decisions more difficult. To find the best logistics software suite, you need to know what you need and which type of solution to go for.

Our Lean Selection Methodology can give you a leg up on choosing the best solution with nine simple steps.

Here are important factors to consider:

Valuable Add-Ons

We’ve outlined the features that the best logistics tools offer, and now it’s time to handpick the few that address your unique needs. Consider these add-on features as milestones in your selection journey and scan the products offering these to narrow your search.

Value-Added Services

If your operation includes processes like kitting or product assembly, you’ll benefit from a product that focuses on cutting costs for these processes.

Standalone logistics management solutions shine here, but remember that a more complex operation would work better with a full SCM suite. If your clients require particular labeling practices, a robust ERP suite may be more your speed.

Architecture Support for Multiple Clients

A warehousing operation commonly takes care of more than one client at a time. Considering this, your logistics or SCM software must handle the purchase, shipping and inventory processes needed to satisfy multiple clients.

Cloud-based models can be attractive with their low cost of entry and ability to store data but be cautious. You’ll need more than the ability to handle a multi-client situation, so ensure that isn’t all you are getting.

Parcel Carriers

3PL providers have to work in tandem with various parcel carriers. Warehousing requires relationships with carriers like FedEx; the easier these interactions happen, the better your supply chain will function.

Finding transportation logistics software that automates the sending and receiving of shipping data should be a priority, as the time saved from automating these tasks is very valuable. Not only that, but automation helps reduce the number of errors generated in this type of process.

Client Web Portals

Web portals for clients are very valuable as they give 3PL providers the ability to control inventory off-site. In this way, a 3PL provider can provide stock figures and vital shipping records via remote access.

Inventory Management Through Vendors

If your operation offers inventory that vendors can manage, looking into a logistics solution that can automate stock replenishment requests and recording processes is a good investment.

This way, the speed of your deliveries grows as clients can skip the long-form order process required for unique packages when they repeat a shipment. Luckily, you can find this sort of functionality in many SCM-based packages.

Select the Right Software with the Free Lean Selection Book

Next Steps

Logistics management software plays a pivotal role in supply chain operations. And with the right software in place, you can position your company to reap the greatest benefits.

Dig deeper into the cream of the crop with our free comparison report. You can easily see how leading systems stack up side by side with analyst-based scores and feature breakdowns.